After October 1st of this year, electronic cigarette users in Australia will only be able to purchase electronic cigarette products from pharmacies with a prescription. While retailers in neighboring New Zealand and most other countries are able to sell electronic cigarette products over the counter, anyone found violating Australia's strict regulations will face hefty fines and, in some cases, imprisonment.
A report from Australia reveals that despite over 2.5 million Australian citizens still smoking, the number of e-cigarette users increased from 240,000 in 2016 to 520,000 people in 2019. If this growth rate is sustained, it is likely that currently 600,000 people are using e-cigarettes in Australia.
The CEO of the Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) has called for clarification regarding new regulatory frameworks, warning that they could impact retailers' operations. The AACS has stated that these new regulations are causing confusion within the petrol station and convenience store sectors. "We expect customers to be confused in the coming weeks and months about the impact of these new regulations on convenience stores across the country, and we have no idea how to explain these regulations to consumers or which behaviors may violate tobacco laws in certain states," said the AACS CEO.
The Australian Association of Convenience Stores (AACS) believes that licensed tobacco retailers should still offer the sale of e-cigarette products. AACS states that as responsible tobacco retailers, they are ready to provide harm-reducing alternatives for consumers. They believe that Australian smokers could reduce their smoking habits or even quit, but the federal government is preventing smokers from accessing harm-reducing products.
In addition, the Australian Pharmacy Guild previously stated publicly that they are against the sale of electronic cigarette products. "The Guild does not support the sale of electronic cigarettes in pharmacies, whether or not they contain nicotine.
Source: VapingPost
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